Lara Dubov, 36, has carefully crafted the gingerbread mosque - the latest in a series of gingerbread creations she's made over the past 10 years.

The part-time model and air hostess, who moved to the North East from America 16 years ago, began making the sweet creations for her youngest daughter's nursery at Roseberry Primary school in Durham, in a bid to inspire the children.

The mother-of-four said: "I started to make gingerbread houses around 10 years ago and it has grown from there.

"Now I look at things and think I wonder how to make that out of gingerbread. Last year I made a Santa's house and all of the children loved it.

"At first I use it as a Christmas decoration in my own home but then I usually try to donate it to places where people will appreciate it. I have given it to Dryburn children's hospital in the past and I raise money for Marie Curie cancer care.

"The thing is, children look at these things and appreciate them but the odd thing is that so do adults. People seem to really like them."

This year Ms Dubov is donating her ginger creation to Westgate Hill School primary school, on Westgate Road, Newcastle .

Ms Dubov, who has four children Santiago, eight, Katarina, six, Ariana , three, and Tatiana, two.